A heavy rescue vehicle, often referred to as a rescue company, rescue squad, heavy rescue, or simply ,fire engine is a type of specialty firefighting or EMS apparatus. Essentially oversized toolboxes on wheels, they are primarily designed for technical rescue situations such as auto accidents, rope rescues, swiftwater rescues, or collapses. On the fireground, rescue squads may be responsible for truck company operations (such as structure ventilation, ladder operations, or Rapid Intervention Team operations) or search and rescue. They carry an array of special equipment such as the hydraulic spreader-cutters, wooden cribbing, electrical generators, winches, hi-lift jacks, cutting torches, saws and many other powerful and destructive tools. They can also carry the necessary equipment to respond to and deal with Haz-Mat incidents. These types of apparatus may also be equipped with a pump and tank(s) for water and/or foam.

See also

• Rescue squad
• Fire engine

External links

• FDNY Rescue 1
• Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, the 7th busiest squad in the country; home of heavy rescue vehicles: RS28 and RS29.

Firefighting equipment | Emergency vehicles